Lija and St Andrew's held but Maroons fail to profit

Senglea Athletic 0
Lija Athletic 0

Leaders Lija had to settle for a point from this match against lowly Senglea who are hovering dangerously at the bottom end of the standings.

Lija did all the attacking for most of the first half and in the opening fifteen minutes efforts by Matthew Borg and Andre Scicluna were stopped by Senglea veteran George Attard.

Lija appeared to have taken the lead on 24 minutes but Borg's 'goal' was disallowed for offside. Borg and Keith Darmanin were a whisker away from target and on another occasion a shot by Scicluna finished just wide.

Lija continued to push forward after the break and on 58 minutes they were denied by Attard off a low angled shot by Luka Desira Buttigieg.

Three minutes later an Antignolo delivery caused havoc in the Senglea box but somehow the ball was cleared to safety. Antoine Sacco was also close from a free-kick and Heathcliffe Schembri hit wide from in front of goal.

Senglea: G. Attard, C. Borg, J. Spiteri, E. Azzopardi, F. Dingli, J. Buttigieg, D. Cosaitis, A. Sciortino, B. Zerafa (R. Tanti), B. Dalli (G. Brincat), T. Thomas (K. Galea).

Lija: L. Bonnici, M. Camilleri, A. Saliba, D. Scerri, M. Borg (M. Schembri), L. Desira Buttigieg (L. Cilia), K. Darmanin, J.P. Scerri, A. Scicluna (A. Sacco), B. Antignolo, H. Schembri.

Referee: Duncan Sultana.

Żebbuġ Rangers 1
St Andrew's 1

St Andrew's seemed heading to a precious win but ten-man Żebbuġ had other ideas and scored a dramatic injury-time equaliser to deny the Saints from the top position.

St Andrew's were the ones who settled down first and after 11 minutes Michael Calleja sped through but was anticipated by keeper Martin Pace to deny the Saints' striker.

Żebbuġ had an Errol Cachia shot saved by Reuben Gauci and on 24 minutes the Saints won a free-kick which was taken by Anatole Debono who hit just high over the bar.

Pace did well to keep out a Nicky Vella Petroni shot as the Rangers gradually started coming more into the picture.

However, just before the break Vella Petroni was fouled by Silvan Privitelli inside the box and from the penalty Debono made it 1-0 for the Saints. Privitelli was sent off.

The Saints maintained the initiative after the break but failed to make their numerical advantage count. Amato, Calleja and Camilleri failed to double their team's lead from good positions as Żebbuġ tried to hit on the counter.

Then, three minutes into stoppage time, the Rangers scored a dramatic equaliser through substitute Paolo Ciantar who headed in from a Stephen Calleja free-kick.

Żebbuġ: M. Pace, K. Farrugia, J. Mercieca, S. Privitelli, J. Fenech (S. Calleja), J. Cilia, E. Cachia, G. Scerri (P. Ciantar), O. Rababah (N. Francalanza), M. Deguara, A. Lagana.

St Andrew's: R. Gauci, N. Chetcuti, P. Briscoe White, J. Bugeja, A. Camilleri Kamsky, J. Briscoe White (W. Camilleri), M. Valenzia (L. Cesareo), A. Amato, A. Debono, N. Vella Petroni, M. Calleja (J.P. Calleja).

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.

Gżira United 1
Żurrieq 2

Gżira failed to take advantage from the drawn results of Lija and St Andrew's as they were beaten by troubled Żurrieq for whom Steve Azzopardi scored the winner four minutes into injury-time.

After just five minutes Matthew Cocks could have given the Maroons a headstart but hit wide from a good position from an Antoine Galea corner. Żurrieq ventured forward through Johan Briffa and on 20 minutes Gżira had a close-range shot by Antoine Galea that finished high.

Gżira held the initiative and created a good scoring opportunity through Josef Felice but five minutes before the break the Reds opened the score when Darren Bellizzi hit home from a Johan Briffa centre.

Żurrieq had a chance to move 2-0 ahead soon after the restart only for a Josef Briffa free-kick to flash wide.

But, right on the hour, Gżira drew level when Richard Attard beat Julian Azzopardi with a powerful drive that left the keeper stranded.

Both sides had their chances to score a winner. Debattista stopped an Azzopardi shot and at the other end Gżira claimed a penalty following a personal effort by Attard. Żurrieq defended boldy and deep into stoppage time Azzopardi scored the winner after a quick break initiated by Jason Saliba.

Gżira: R. Debattista, A. White, H. Gatt Bonello, M. Sultana, N. Gatt Coleiro (J. Tabone), M. Cocks, K. Bonello, J. Felice, A. Galea (A. Pirrone), N. Corito, R. Attard.

Żurrieq: J. Azzopardi, D. Bellizzi, J. Camilleri, C. Gatt, A. Barbara, J. Saliba, Joh. Briffa (D. Bonnici), Jos. Briffa (M. Abdilla), V. Zerafa (C. Shomba), D. Zammit, S. Azzopardi.

Referee: Mohammed Khalil.

Birżebbuġa St Peter's 0
Rabat Ajax 5

This was an excellent performance by Rabat who dominated their opponents from start to finish to enhance their prospects of avoiding the relegation play-offs. The Saints were simply non-starters and ended the match with nine players.

Rabat opened the score on 19 minutes following a shot from the distance by Chris Schembri which took a deflection on its way in.

The Magpies were the only team on the pitch and after a Mansueto save off a point-blank shot by Justin Felice the Saints suffered a setback when Ronnie Celeste was sent off for retaliation.

Just before the half-time whistle Rabat scored twice, through Felice and Adam Smeir, to practically seal the points so early in the game. Two minutes after the restart Felice headed in a Smeir cross with the Saints unable to stage a reaction.

Sixteen minutes from time, the seasiders ended up with nine players when Charles Cachia was sent off for an ugly foul on Emanuel Muscat and seven minutes from time Rabat sealed their convincing win with a fifth goal scored by Joseph Caruana.

Birżebbuġa: G. Mansueto, E. Saliba, A. Buttigieg (B. Darmanin), D. Baldacchino, C. Cachia, N. Tabone (A. Cutajar), A. Mangion, R. Adami (F. Peplow), C. Camenzuli, R. Celeste, K. Muscat.

Rabat: J. Azzopardi, N. Caruana, C. Schembri (M. Micallef), J. Caruana, J. Felice, A. Zahra, A. Smeir, D. Falzon, K. Cassar, E. Muscat (J. Tonna), D. Azzopardi (S. Gauci).

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.